Pitt volleyball team remains focused as it prepares to host Kansas in Sweet 16

Finals looming, coupled with the pressure of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball tournament, hasn’t worn on Chinaza Ndee.

The fifth-year Pitt middle blocker routinely uses meditation to find her emotional center. Meeting with a sports psychologist once a week in addition to her own plan has Ndee focused on the moment.

“It’s about being fully committed to what’s in front of me,” said Ndee who has recorded a team-high 351 kills. “If it’s work, I’m fully committed to that moment. If it’s volleyball, I’m fully present for that moment. It’s not about looking ahead or looking back or thinking too much about the future. Enjoying every moment is important.”

The Panthers (28-3) savor the challenge ahead as they prepare to try and make their first run to the Final Four. Pitt, which is the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament, will host unseeded Kansas (18-11) in the Sweet 16 at 1 p.m. Thursday at Fitzgerald Field House.

Should the Panthers beat the Jayhawks, they will host the winner of BYU/Purdue in the Elite 8 on Saturday. Fifth-year senior hitter Kayla Lund, who is eighth all-time in Pitt history with 1,339 kills, is excited to have a chance to play these matches in a home environment.

“I’m super grateful,” said Lund, who is playing through an upper-body injury. “That’s been our word every single day coming in throughout the tournament. Hey, how lucky are we that we get a practice today? Not every team got to show up to practice today and got to wake up and have a chance to compete today. For it to be at home for our last year here is super special.”

Having an intimidating crowd might help against an opponent that has found itself since the tournament started.

Kansas, which was 0-6 against ranked opponents in the regular season, beat No. 20 Oregon and No. 19 Creighton to earn a trip to Pittsburgh.

“We have some great leadership and some great returning leadership,” Jayhawks coach Ray Bechard said. “We also have some youthful players that I think over time created a little confidence and things have come together for us over the past two weekends.”

Pitt coach Dan Fisher isn’t expecting the Jayhawks to be a pushover. Kansas is one of seven Big 12 teams to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers only run-in with a Big 12 opponent was a 3-2 victory over Baylor in September.

Pitt, which bowed out in the Elite 8 last season, isn’t looking past the Jayhawks.

“The message has been we want to go in confident but not overconfident because Kansas is playing good volleyball right now,” Fisher said. “They’ve beaten two good teams in a row and hit for a good clip in both of those games.”

Pitt has limited its opponents to .187 hitting percentage this season. The Panthers have been effective with their block this season, recording 2.42 blocks per set and are led by Penn State transfer Serena Gray, who has 122.

On offense, Pitt has a multi-pronged attack. The Panthers have four players — Ndee (351), Leketor Member-Mneh (319), Lund (317) and Gray (235) — with 200 or more kills.

Meditation has kept this group focused. Experience will keep the players focused despite the challenges in front of them.

“I think every game we come up with a good gameplan,” Ndee said. “In general, we think we can play how we play in practice, and that’s good enough to beat a lot of teams. Like Fish said, we are playing confidently. We know that even if we are down we can score four good points in a row and get right back in it.”